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Why peonies?

The peony is like the little black dress of flowers: stylish, timeless and always reliable. In fact, gardeners have been planting these beauties for more than a century. "If well-sited, peonies can bloom for 50, 75, 100 years," says Roy Klehm, peony expert and owner of Klehm's Song Sparrow Farm and Nursery in Avalon, Wisconsin.

New colors in peonies, such as coral and salmon, and versatile flower forms, from petal-packed "bombs" to single-petaled flowers with huge swirly centers, offer flower fans beauty in both the garden and vase."Peonies offer structure and fragrance in gardens and the landscape," Roy says. And they are favorites in the Midwest, where cold winters and hot summers suit these showy perennials.

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Midwest peony picks

On this and the next four slides are five easy-to-find peony varieties that grow exceptionally well in the Midwest. (Typically, peonies grow in Zones 3 to 8.)'Coral Charm' (pictured) is an early-blooming, semidouble peony-a showstopper in the garden and a great cut flower. Dark coral buds open to sweetly scented cupped coral-peach blossoms. It's also an American Peony Society Gold Medal recipient.

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Top peonies: 'Do Tell'

Sweet pink outer petals surround a frilly center of rose, pink and white on 'Do Tell' flowers. This Japanese peony is a consistent performer from North to South--and, of course, the Midwest. It's an American Peony Society Gold Medal recipient.